LeBron James opens up about his relationship with Michael Jordan

In an excellent interview with ESPN’s Chris Broussard, LeBron James talked extensively about his offseason, his place among basketball’s all-time greats, and his sources of inspiration. James said Jordan is unquestionably the greatest basketball player of all time, but detailed exactly what he feels he has to do to dethrone MJ (who James says “definitely thinks he can beat me one-on-one right now”).

I don’t know what it would take for the so-called experts to say that — that’s not what I’m trying to do. My goal is to be the best of all time, and that means maximizing everything I have. And I feel if I can maximize my game, then I can be ranked as if not the greatest, then one of the greatest…. I’m not trying to catch Magic or catch Bird or catch Kobe. I’m into maximizing what I have while I have the opportunity to do it.

When asked why he doesn’t have a stronger relationship with Michael Jordan, James wasn’t entirely sure.

“I think it’s just being busy. Obviously, I’m busy. MJ has a lot going on. I don’t know the reasons, but it’s never been sparked. I’ve seen him at times. Of course, I’ve met him a few times. I went to his 50th-birthday party at All-Star weekend. I went to his party to show respect and pay homage to the greatest. I had a conversation with him there. Obviously, there were a lot of people there. But I don’t know.”

James also revealed that Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson was one of his favorite players as a kid.

I watch Jordan more than anybody, for sure. But I’ll watch tapes of AI too. I don’t take anything from AI. Well, I do — his will. They say he was six feet, but AI was like 5’10½”. Do we even want to say 160? 170? Do we even want to give him that much weight? And he played like a 6’8″ 2-guard. He was one of the greatest finishers we’ve ever seen. You could never question his heart. Ever. He gave it his all. AI was like my second favorite player growing up, after MJ.

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